[14] FINO OPPOSES ELECTORAL LAW WITHOUT PRESENTING HIS VERSION IN THE
PARLIAMENT

[16] STATEMENT TO PEOPLE'S ASSEMBY BY ALBANIAN PREMIER ABOUT THE LAW ON
ELECTIONS

TIRANA, MAY 13 (ATA)- By A. Keko, Albanian delegation, headed by Albanian
Interior Minister Belul Celo, yesterday left for Tromso of Norway to take
part in the Pan-European Ministerial Conference "On international
cooperation and politics of war against drug traffic and abuse, due between
May 14 and 16.

According to the spokesman of the Interior Ministry, Celo is also
expected to hold meetings with authorities of the Norwegian Foreign
Ministry. a.ke/pas/lm/k

TIRANA, MAY 14 (ATA)- Several armed men on Tuesday opened fire on the
building of the Border Crossing Point of Kakavija, (near the Albanian-Greek
border, on Albanian zone) wounding two police officers from the Gjirokaster
town, while they were on duty.

The attack came two hours after a quarrel between two persons shooting
at each other at this point.

One of them was wounded and later sent to Gjirokaster hospital.

Upon learning the news of the wounding of this person, an armed band
left for Kakavije to take revenge and without any cause attacked the
building of the border crossing point. eva/lm/z

TIRANA, MAY 14 (ATA) - Today's newspapers report on the approval yesterday
by parliament of the election law. Rilindja Demokratike carries the
editorial:"SP imitates May 26". It says that the socialists began yesterday
to undermine the voting process. The paper carries the article:"Socialists
return to boycott".

As regards amendments to the election law, the paper carries the
pronouncement of the DP secretary general, Genc Pollo,: "DP respects
accords".

The paper carries an interview with the chairman of the Legality
Movement Party, Durollari, entitled:"We abide by the May 9 agreement".

Zeri i Popullit carries the statement of the SP parliamentary group
that in parliament they will not discuss anything else before the way of
approving the election law prepared by the Government of National
Reconciliation is unblocked.

Under the headline "Another masquerade of Berisha and his tools," the
paper carries the article:"DP is spoiling the contract".

Republika carries a statement of the RP chairman and deputy to the
People's Assembly, Sabri Godo, saying that the RP agrees to the consensus
of the nine parties to submit to parliament the election draft-law proposed
by the government.

"But we are against any kind of political manoeuvre. We declare that we
will not take part in elections if the DP majority approves the law
arbitrarily," the paper says. It also carries the article:"SP: DP tricked
us".

Rilindja covers the meetings of Prime Minister Fino in Washington under
the title:"Holding elections - key step to restore trust in power". On this
occasion, the paper also carries a statement of the spokesman of the
U.S. State Department Nicholas Burns entitled: "Consensus important for the
election law". The paper covers in a special article on yesterday's
parliament proceedings.

As regards the electoral law approved Tuesday, Albania says that
President Berisha is expected to approve this law on Wednesday. It covers
yesterday's parliament sitting under the title: "Elections and referendum
(on the form of government) on the same day", the paper says: "Fifty two
votes for, one against, two abstentions. The leftists will boycott the
elections and government".

Koha Jone says;"DP deputies drop election draft-law of the
Government. The Arbnori-Spahia law proposed and approved. The opposition
quits parliament's hall". The paper also cites the opposition as saying:"We
do not take part in elections. This is a putsch". The paper carries the
editorial:"Dictator plays with the mouse", regarding the election law
approved on Tuesday.

Dita carries the editorial:"When one cannot live without quarrels",
saying that :"Treatment in European language of point 2 of the (political)
contract, and of details of the electoral law, resulted quite unreadable
for the Albanian political primitive leader".

Gazeta Shqiptare says:"The DP law endangers elections". As regards the
election law approved yesterday by parliament, the paper says:"The Fino
project 'disappears'", as well as "parties threaten: 'We will not take part
in elections'".

Newspaper Independent carries the editorial:"Bomb in Fino's plane",
regarding the election law. The paper also says: "Nine parties object the
electoral law presented by the DP" as well as :"President today calls
election date".

TIRANE, MAY 14 (ATA) - The Chairman of the Presidency of the People's
Assembly, Pjeter Arbnori, made the following statement with regard to the
approval by the Parliament on May 13, 1997 of the electoral law:

1. The electoral law which Albanian Parliament has approved is
completely conformed to the political contract signed on May 9, 1997 by 10
political parties and with the definition by Mr Vranitzly that the coming
law must be an intermediate document between the electoral law of 1992 and
that of 1996. This law has a broader proportional component and a broader
majority component of the two above mentioned laws. Actually, it includes
115 deputies elected on the basis of the majority system and 40 deputies on
the proportional system, thus increasing to 60 per cent the number of the
deputies elected on the basis of the proportional system applied in 1996.

2. The law that the Parliament approved on May 13, 1997, differently
from the law of 1992 and that of 1996, has reduced from 4 to 3 per cent the
limit for the small parties, thus respecting them more.

3. The law includes the 11 recommendations of the European Council,
ODHIR and OSCE, which the political parties agreed upon in October last
year in the round table discussion with the President of the Republic.

I am convinced that all those who will see this law and want to be
unbiased, will find that this law is constructed according to European
standards and it has a reliable basis for fair and free elections in
Albania.

4. The law envisages a totally equal division of the time for TV
coverage between the position parties and those of the opposition during
the electoral campaign.

5. The contract of the parties envisaged that the electoral law behad
to be approved on May 12. No law of this kind was presented to the
Parliament by the Government until May 14, the date when the day of
elections would be set. In these circumstances, the Parliament approved the
law. It has instructed that the law must be translated, published and when
the international opinion will read they will find that it is a democratic
law which favours none of the parties.

I also invite the U.S. State Department to study this law and I am
convinced that after this, it will come to the conclusion that the law has
a legal basis for fair and correct elections, says the statement of Mr
Pjeter Arbnori. ssh/xh/e

TIRANA, MAY 14 (ATA)- By A. Frasheri, The Christian-Democratic Party (CDP)
will be careful in assessing the situation after the passing of the
election law by parliament and after the statement of eight political
parties yesterday.

"We will not join extremist stands and not accept statements as 'we
will walk out of the government or will not take part in elections'", the
CDP chairman, Zef Bushati, said before the beginning of an urgent meeting
of the presidency of this party.

The meeting will analyse yesterday's statement of the eight political
parties and the way the electoral law was voted by parliament.

Bushati said that: "For the time being we cannot provide a position to
this situation."

He considered the news conference, to be held by the parties by midday,
"hasty and unreasonable", and said that his party would not take part in
this conference.

Meanwhile, the SP chairman, Fatos Nano, cancelled a news conference
scheduled for today at 11.00, as he was reported to have many important
meetings. s.sh/eva/lm/E

TIRANE, MAY 14 (ATA) - The Social Democratic Party, the Republican Party,
the Democratic Alliance Party, the Christian Democratic Party, the Human
Right Union Party, the Socialist Party and the Movement for Democracy
Party, which convened Tuesday adopted the following declaration:

1. The parties which convened today on May 13, 1997 to analyse the
situation after the arbitrary act of the DP parliamentary group with regard
to the new electoral law, declare that they observe the March 9 and May,
1997 agreements.

2. They support the National Reconciliation Government in its efforts
for the preparation of free and equal elections in cooperation with
international organizations, and particularly for its draft of the
electoral law which is fruit of compromise.

3. The blocking of the law-making initiative of the National
Reconciliation Government regarding the new draft of the electoral law
prepared by it is a flagrant violation of the above agreements and has the
value of a vote of non-confidence for the government.

4. The political parties participating in the round table discussion
do not agree to take part in the elections imposed on the basis of the
electoral law of May 26, 1996, or a law similar to it, and they will
immediately review their further participation in the National
Reconciliation Government.

5. The present parliamentary political parties refuse their
participation in the parliament until the situation is unblocked.

6. The re-negotiation of the May 9, 1997 Agreement between the
political parties in the presence of Mr Vranitzky, is indispensable.

7. It is also indispensable the extension of the mandate of the
multinational forces with their participation in securing order and peace
during the electoral process.

8. The adoption of the draft law of the DP parliamentary Group brings
the government crisis back to the level of March 1997 and for all this the
responsbility rests with the Democratic Party. xh/sh/

SARANDE, MAY 14 (ATA) - By Shkelqim Hajno: An Albanian illegal emigrant was
killed in the vicinity of the coasting town of Igumenice, some 20 miles far
from the Albanian-Greek naval border.

The Greek television channels reported that a motorboat, which
started from the Albanian territorial waters from the outskirts of Saranda,
entered the Greek territorial waters, making possible later the loading of
a quantity of drugs in the Greek border. But, when a person was arrested as
soon as he entered the Greek territory, the other person, who was on the
motor-boat did not obey the orders of the Greek guards, and was shot dead
during a fire exchange with them.

Sources of the Greek electronic media of the Thesprotise and Corfu
region mentioned that the tension against the Albanian illegal emigrants
has increased recently, especially after a fire exchange some 20 days ago,
between the armed emigrants and the Greek guards, where a Greek officer was
shot dead. /a.ke/kled/

[08] SEVERAL POLITICAL PARTIES WAIT FOR FINO AND VRANITZKY TO PRONOUNCE ON
ELECTION LAW

TIRANA, MAY 14 (ATA) - By Keida Kostreci, Atlant Frasheri: Several Albanian
political parties will wait for the arrival in Albania of the special envoy
of OSCE, Franz Vranitzky, and of Premier Fino from USA, to give further
pronouncements regarding the election law, approved Tuesday by Parliament.

"We will not pronounce about this problem until Fino and Vranitzky
arrive in Albania," said one of the participants after a meeting among some
political parties, the leader of the Moveemnt for Democracy Party, Dashamir
Shehi.

"The blocking of the law-making initiative of the National
Reconciliation Government, regarding the new draft of the election law,
prepared by it, is a flagrant violation of the above agreements and has the
value of a vote of non confidence for the government".

"A critical view is taken of Fino, the same as of Jukov times ago,"
said the chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Skender Gjinushi.

Gjinushi said that "practically, the government is fictive now, so
that its resignation is of no importance."

The President of the Republic said Wednesday in a meeting in Kavaja
that he would decree today the election day and would dissolve the
Parliament.

"The Government will not hold the polls with this law," he said,
while the leader of the Democratic Alliance, Neritan Ceka, ally of
Gjinushi, said that "the elections will be held."

Asked whether the parliament could convene to make amendments on the
election law, Gjinushi said that "there is a very clear article that, even
when the Parliament is dissolved, the Government can call it to convene."

Gjinushi accused President Berisha of "violating all kinds of
agreements among the parties and he does not have the consensus of any
party, does not have support of OSCE and Council of Europe, which according
to Gjinushi, have said that they support only the Government."

Asked what would they do if OSCE would give the approval for this
draft-law, he said that "I am sure this can never happen."

The Government of National Reconciliation has not presented in
parliament until now the new election law, as it was envisaged in the May 9
contract among the Albanian political parties./mt/sh/

LUSHNJE, MAY 14 (ATA) - In Karbunare, 5 km far from Lushnje, as well as in
several points of the axe of the national road Lushnje-Berat, groups of
people did not allow the vehicles of Berat to pass. The buses of the line
Berat-Tirana and Berat with the other districts could not transport the
travellers into their destination.

According to different sources, some citizens from Berat, robbed two
days ago a vehicle of Lushnje and in response to this, the Lushnje citizens
do not allow the Berati citizens to pass through. /a.ke/kled/mt/

KAKAVIJE, MAY 14 (ATA) - By H. aani: In the border check point of Kakavije,
which connects Greece with Albania, the criminal gangs continue to rob and
exercise violence on the Albanians who travel in this point.

These gangs continued Tuesday the systematic robberies and were
confronted with the order forces, and as a result of this the policemen
Maksi aani, and Genci Mullai were injured.

Due to these violent acts, it is interrupted the functioning of the
Greek border check point, and the Greek consulate in Gjirokaster.

The border check point of Kakavije is under the complete control of
gangs. Several days ago they injured gravely a 13-year old girl from
Delvina, as well as violated an Albanian citizen who was coming from
Greece.

Robbery and terror were also exercised on the vehicles and buses in the
axe of the road Kakavije-Ballsh./a.ke/kled/mt/sh/

TIRANE, MAY 1`4 (ATA) - As the spokesman of the People's Assembly of
Albania reports, the Chairman of the National Reconciliation Government,
Bashkim Fino had sent, on May 9, 1997, a letter to the Chairman of the
Presidency of the People's Assembly, Pjeter Arbnori. Follows the text of
the letter:

"Today, on May 9, 1997, the Council of Ministers will discuss and
decide on the draft law of elections, the version adopted by the majority
of the political forces in the round table of the parties.

Mr Chairman, I would ask you, please, that the draft law, which I
will sent to you immediately, be planned for discussion the next week both
in parliamentary commissions and in plenary session. In the plenary session
I will also present, in the name of the National Reconciliation Government,
the program of work for the realisation of the new elections. ake/xh/+++

DELVINE, MAY 14 (ATA) - By Shkelqim Hajno: The robberies and terror
continue in the segments of the national road in the district of Delvine,
which connects the later with Gjirokaster and the boarder check point of
Kakavije.

It is reported that two days ago, the above gangs, by taking
advantage of the fact that the multinational forces, deployed in Grehot of
Gjirokaster, were not controlling the national roads, robbed and controlled
for jewelryes all the passengers who were travelling towards Kakavije, or
who turned back from Greece in this point.

At least nine people from the districts of Sarande and Delvive have
died in this road segment due to acts of these armed gangs during the
months of riots. /a.ke/kled/mt/

[14] FINO OPPOSES ELECTORAL LAW WITHOUT PRESENTING HIS VERSION IN THE
PARLIAMENT

TIRANE, MAY 14 (ATA) - By R Floqi: Albanian Premier Bashkim Fino presented
in the Parliament on May 14 in the evening a declaration through which he
opposed the law on elections adopted by the Parliament but he did not
present the government version of this law.

"I have no direct remarks for the law," said Premier Fino, asked by
ATA, after his declaration, "but the law should have been adopted in the
spirit of the political consensus since the government is formed in the
spirit of this consensus and this is the way we must go to elections."

Fino said that through this act, "some important moments of the
political agreement reached between the political forces and the
representatives of European institutions have been not observed, hence
there are carried out acts which run counter to the spirit of consensus
which all the political forces and the governmment are being committed to
realise."

A declaration signed by 8 parties yesterday against the law which
the Parliament approved, said that "precisely the May 9 Agreement must be
reconsidered."

Fino explained the procedure of the preparation of the law by him
after broad consultations with the political parties, which on May 9
adopted in principle the new law of elections. Fino said he had informed
the Parliment Speaker that after his return from the visit to the U.S., he
would take part himself in the presentation and defence of this important
draftlaw, which was one of the main tasks of the National Reconciliation
Government.

Taking the floor after Mr Fino, Mr Arbnori said that "neither
yesterday which was the legal deadline nor now has the government presented
any draft law."

"Without speaking of the context of this law, I consider this
initiative and the procedure followed for its approval as something which
opposes openly the spirit of the March 9 Agreement and the very points of
the political contract of May 9," said Fino.

"The Prime Minister was right not to approve the draft law on
elections prepared by the Ministry of Law, because in concept that draft
was not conformed to the political contract of May 9, but at the same time
neither yesterday nor today has any draft of this law been presented,
except for a declaration," said DP chairman, Tritan Shehu.

Elections will be free only if they will be realised by this
government, only if they are conducted on the basis of the consensus of all
the parties, only if all the political parties will take part in it and
their outcome is accepted by all, said Fino in the declaration. His only
hope was that tomorrow, when Mr Vranitzky comes, "all possibilities may
exist to reach a consensus to mend everything and to have democratic
elections." xh

TIRANE, MAY 14 (ATA) - The Democratic Party, the Movement of Legality
Party, the Social Democratic Union Party, the Christian Demcratic Party and
the Democratic Union Party, by discussing extensively the indispensable
need of cooperation for a landslide victory of Albanian democracy in the
June 29 elections, agree to:

1. be members of the Union for Democracy.

2. to create an inter-party commission to coordinate electoral
cooperation between them, consisting of the main leaders of these parties.

3. be conmmitted to leave each other free zones.

4. to stand with common candidate and have a common list for the
proportional system.

5. to support one another in the second round of polls according to
the decisions of the coordinating commission.

6. Union for Democracy remains open for the Balli Kombetar Party and
is resolute to support set candidates of the Republican Party.

Our parties congratulate the President of the Republic for his
initiative to reexamine in the Parliament of the electoral law with the
objective of expanding the space for the small parties, reducing the
minimal limit to 2 per cent and for the accounting of the propotional
system mostly in favour the small parties. xh

[16] STATEMENT TO PEOPLE'S ASSEMBY BY ALBANIAN PREMIER ABOUT THE LAW ON
ELECTIONS

TIRANE, MAY 14 (ATA) - Albanian Prime Minister Bashkim Fino made a
declaration today in the People's Assembly regarding the new law on
elections. After thanking the deputies who gave him the possiblity to make
that declaration, in the capacity of the Council of Ministers, the Premier
said:

"During my visit to the U.S. I was informed that the People's
Assembly had examined and adopted through an accelerated procedure the new
electoral law. My concern is linked with the fact that this act has
violated some important moments of the political agreement reached between
the political forces and the representatives of European institutions,
hence, this act is contrary to the spirit of consensus which all the
political forces and the government are trying to realise.

I would like to inform you that after braod consultations with the
political parties and with experts of OSCE and the Council of Europe, on
Friday, May 9, 1997, the Governemt adopted in princille the new electoral
law.

Taking into account the political contract signed by the political
parties in the presence of Mr Vranitzky which stipulates that May 12 is the
deadline for the parties to agree on the draftlaw, we left three days at
the disposal of the parties that after the adoption in princile, they have
the possiblity for eventual technical changes to the draft. After this, I
had a meeting with Mr Arbnori in which I informed him of the aforesaid and
asked him that the session for the adoption of the law be held after my
return from the visit to the U.S., since I want to take part personally in
the presentation and defence of this important draftlaw, which consists one
of the main tasks of the National Reconciliation Government. I also
presented this request in written to Mr Arbnori. Mr Arbnori had no
opposition to what I presented to him.

But differently from this, upon the initiative of the DP
parliamentary group, quite suprisignly the People's Assembly included in
the agenda and adopted another draftlaw on elections.

Without speaking about the context of this law, I consider this
initiative and the procedure followed for its approval an open opposiotn to
the spirit of the March 9 political agreement and with the points of the
May 9 contract itself. The essence of this question is that the electoral
law must be adopted with the consensus of all the parties and conformed to
all the rules in order to have free and democratic elections. This also is
the basis of the stability which will lead then to a stable political
solution through the electoral process. I demand this from all the
political forces, and this is also demanded by all European governments and
international institutions concerned in the solution of the Albanian
crisis.

I have several times appealed to DP not to impose on others through
its parliamentary majority, but it must find the spirit of cooperation with
all political forces which have reached the agreement for the National
Reconciliation Government.

I regret to say here that you have acted differently from this
spirit, contrary to the very political contract which DP leaders have
signed.

I would like to stress here once more that the National
Reconciliation Govenment is charged with the realisation of the
elections. The earlier elections will be free and democractic only if they
will be realised by this government, only if they will be conducted with
the consensus of all the parties, only if all political parties take part
in them and only if the poll outcome is accepted by all political parties,
also in line with the conclusions of the international authority. The
elections will not be organized by the Democratic Party. This party is
equal with other political forces during all the electoral process.

Now it is clear for all the Albanians, the intenational institutions
and the governments of the European states and the U.S. that, also in line
with the constitutional provisions and the legislation in force, the
National Reconciliation Govenment will use its competence and carry out its
tasks in adopting all the decisions for the realisation of these polls,
beginning with the endorsement of the electoral law and other necessary
acts, up to the setting of the election day and the dissolution of the
People's Assembly.

Just like the electoral law will not be made by a single party, the
election day too cannot not be declared in a meeting. Such illegal acts
not only do not help realise the free and democratic elections, but also
increase the political tension in the country and hamper the realisation of
a political and stable solution for the country.

In conclusion, I would like to invite you, honoured deputies, to
discuss and decide on the draft law presented by the Government, being
completely open to decide in the spirit of the consensus and cooperation
between all the political forces," ends the statement of Albanian Premier
Bashkim Fino. xh